A CLERIC, Prophet Godwin Ojerinde, has been discharged and acquitted by a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Abeokuta over a criminal allegation levelled against him by his female tenant, Mrs. Motunrayo Saheed, in Owode Egba, Obafemi Owode Local Council of Ogun State.

He was arraigned before Her Worship, O.M. Somefun (Mrs.), on March 25, 2024, on a count charge of indecent assault, punishable under Section 360 of the Criminal Code Law of Ogun State, 2006.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge and elected to be tried summarily. The trial commenced with Mrs. Saheed testifying as the sole witness for the prosecution.

She alleged that on March 19, 2024, the defendant, her landlord, physically assaulted and stripped her in her apartment in the presence of eyewitnesses.

However, the prosecution failed to tender documentary evidence or call other witnesses to corroborate the allegation.

At the close of the prosecution’s case, the defence counsel raised a No Case Submission and urged the court to discharge and acquit the defendant on the grounds that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against him.

The court held: “The prosecution has not established a prima facie case against the defendant, and to this extent, the No Case Submission raised by the defence counsel succeeds. The defendant is discharged and acquitted.”